The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-14

REFORMED GAMBLER.
Evangelist Forrest and His Peculiar
Work I'm San Francisco.

coat had not speck OF aust upon IL,
his white four-in-hand scarf was adj
iusted to nicely around his ''cut-my-
chin" collar, and his hair was banged
and pastered as accurately as vaseline
would stick it. when he began opera
tons on the souls of his very respect
able audience at the Central Methodist
Church last evening. The reformed
short-card player was the central brill
liant in setting of smart young wom-
IN who sang more or less, and five
gentlemen of various degrees of thick
uess, who formed the male portion of
the choir. The eXhorter had the pull
pit moved to one side so as to leave
the platform free for his exasperated
motions. The audience was composed
mainly of the male sex, the fairer half
of creation being 200 much mystiied
by the reformed gambler technical
slang TO appreciate his sallies' while
the men present affected the bald head
by large majority. Forests verna-
cular frequently brought down the
house. his illusions to full hands"
and straight tlushes," "bluiiing,"
"straddles," ''antes," and stocked
deals" being thoroughly enjoyed and
apparently appreciated. a particu-
larly unique feature OF the series of
services is the absence of the collection
plate.
Out of regard for the convention
alitles, but evidently for no other rea-
son, Forrest selected text, Saved by
Hope" which he announced was to be
found in eighth Romans, Oath verse,
and paid no further attention to.
The services were opened by sing
ing, which he started with the injunc-
ton to the young lady in frizzes, who
played the organ, to "let her go!" And
she did "lct her co." and the choir
'let her CO." aud there was some
noise there or Whereabouts.
"Glad to see so many of the boys
here tonight" began the speaker. 81
feel that God called me unto the work
for the boys. When a man of my age
has spent fifteen years going down
to hell and has been stopped, he owes a
debt of gratitude. That's what owe,
and want to cash in.
Tonight | am not going to talk to
cemeteries. God only knows the Sc
crets of the graveyards. Scores that
lay out in Lone Mountain refused the
Lord When the cask is screwed down
there is no chance for fellow. When
the crepe is hanged before the door you
can't cash your checks. Twice in my
life | have laid at deaths door, once
with n knife wound and once with o
"A that left a hole in my neck | can
put my finger into"
"The revivalist described how par
son in a sermon over drunkard' body
promised the wife and mother and
daughter to meet him in heaven"
mo, he went to hellv' cried the
evangelist. "a gambler don't want to
go to heaven. He'd have no one to
play game with"
The exhorter here fell into lachry.
nose condition. during which he dealt il
considerable sentiment, and related the
story OF his own convention while deal
ing faro. He claimed to have been toe
wicked for description, too low for the
Imagination to grasp. and took huge
satisfaction in the picture OF depravity
which he presented.
But" he shouted, shifting the pull
pit a mighty thwack, 1--WE found {
game that pays. I've found hanC
that wins every hour of my life; i'll
a hand no man can hold over. no man
can bluff me on. 1t is the hand Coo
dealt to me, and won't layit down un
til lay it down at the throne of God. v
The converted gambler then depicted
girl initiated into game of cards in
a home, and year later staggering up
the street.
Then, somewhat irrelevantly, he as
serted; "A gambler has heart as big
as church. God bless and have mercy
on the gamblers of San Francisco. The
only time l ever held sure, good hand
that couldn't be done up hold now"
"A friend of mine l helped plant in
Leadvillc. There was man who hello
as big roll as any man in Frisco.
found him lying dying from consump'